Run Out Of Town

A lesbian couple claim that they were forced to leave town because of the anti-LGBTQ+ feeling in town.

LGBTQ store owners close down Micanopy store. Locals cast blame on town elected official
The Gainesville Sun
By Gershon Harrell
January 23, 2023


A few business owners in Micanopy say they are being targeted and discriminated against by town officials and some locals for showing support for the LGBTQ community.

One of the businesses has since closed up shop, citing concerns for their safety.

In a Jan. 14 Facebook post, the store owners of the antique shop Restless Mommas announced they closed their doors in Micanopy. Though no specific threat was mentioned, the store − owned by a same-sex couple − has alluded to being run out of town for anti-LGBTQ views from some area residents.

"It was very frightening for a minute there," the page posted to one commenter.

"We are so sad about it ... but we can’t risk our safety."

[…]

"Anybody that displays anything that Mike doesn't like, Mike's gonna go after," Bambrick said. "And he uses the town for his own political gain, like his own kind of agenda."

Those feelings of animosity recently spilled over into a Jan. 10 town commission meeting, where locals defended the store owners who weren't in attendance. Some also noted how locals displaying Trump flags weren't cited.

The animosity has spilled out in public bringing it to the attention of the country offices and in another article the Gainesville Sun writes,

Commissioner Mary Alford, followed by her colleagues, said she supported the women who fled and was saddened to hear the news.

“They are great ladies and they literally had to close down their business and move out of town because they felt unsafe,” Alford said.

[…]

Regardless of the rule, Alford said the issue was uncalled for and that the ordinance appears to be unfairly enforced, as locals have reported seeing Donald Trump and Blue Lives Matter flags being flown without consequence.

So many of these Trump supporters are becoming petty tyrants following in their “Great Leader” footsteps. But then against it is Florida where the little tyrant rules.

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I wrote about a lesbian couple claim that they were forced to leave town because of the anti-LGBTQ+ feeling in town. You can read it here.